Sleep aid

ABSTRACT

Heartburn is a disorder caused by various reasons. In dealing with this disorder, there are different methods used such as medicinal therapy, change of diet and lifestyle and surgical procedures. In addition to the above mentioned, there are devices to raise the upper portion of the body during sleep to prevent upward movement of stomach contents. In this invention, a generally wedge shaped apparatus will support the upper body in a raised position to start the sleep cycle and will collapse after a period of time to allow the user to sleep on generally a flat plain and comfortably in various positions such as facing up or sides.

This invention relates to a collapsible device for controlling causesand symptoms of acid reflux.

In dealing with acid reflux problem, it is common to have the head sideof bed raised to create a down ward flow for the stomach contentstowards the bottom of the stomach and away from the esophagus. Inaddition, there are wedges made of foam or other materials to be used onconventional beds to support the upper back in creating the samedownward effect for the upper body, however, these methods and devicesdo not provide a natural and comfortable condition for the user duringsleep. Raising the head side of the bed creates a down ward slopeeffect, causing the body to slide towards the end of the bed duringsleep. Conventional wedges create the same condition only in part bylifting the upper portion of the body with the same slope effect. Inaddition, the user is limited in options such as sleeping comfortably onhis or her sides due to the unnatural bend a wedge will create while aperson is sleeping on his or her side.

I have found that these disadvantages can be overcome by having acollapsible device to keep the torso of a user on a slant for a lengthof time so the stomach can process and empty its contents before thedevice is switched to collapse mode. With this method, user has theoption of starting the bedtime on an elevated position and change to aconventional flat position at a period during bedtime without having tointerrupt sleep or rest.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In drawing which illustrates embodiment of the invention, the generallywedge shaped collapsible apparatus is shown on bed B in one of the waysit can be arranged for regular use.

A sheet of air impermeable material formed and sealed to creategenerally wedge shaped pad A, comprising base surface 12, supportsurface 14 and back surface 16. Side panels 18 are connecting andsealing base, support and back surfaces to make pad A inflatable.

Base surface 12, shown in this drawing, is approximately 24″ in lengthand is arranged in generally a horizontal plain as the foundation forconnecting all other surfaces forming wedge shaped pad A.

Support surface 14 is connected to base surface 12 at edge 20 andextends in an inclined angel to reach, shown in this drawing, a heightof approximately 7″ for supporting the torso of a user on a slant withthe head and shoulders up. Back surface 16 extends in generally avertical plain to connect base surface 12 and support surface 14 at theopposite end to edge 20.

Side panels 18 are generally triangle shaped extending upwards toconnect base surface 12, support surface 14 and back surface 16 oneither sides of pad A.

Air inlet 22 provides fluid communication between the interior of pad Aand air pump 24. Air inlet 22 is positioned on back surface 16 andproximate one of side panels 18 to minimize the possibility of bulgingunder the user's pillow once pad A has collapsed to flat position.

Air pump 24 is connected to house hold electrical out let 26 by cord 28and is the source of air supply for pad A. Normally closed valve 38 islinked to air pump 24 for controlling fluid communication between airpump 24 and pad A.

Air hose 30 connects air inlet 22 to air pump 24 and is of a desirablelength to provide means of placing air pump 24 at a distance from pad Aso the sounds generated during inflation and deflation are reaching theuser at reduced levels. In addition, placing air pump 24 at a distancefrom pad A is reducing clutter on bed B.

Control panel 32 having switch 36 and timer 40, is connected to air pump24 by cord 34 so the user can operate the apparatus from a convenientplace proximal to bed B.

User will position pad A on a desired rest place shown in this drawingas bed B and activate switch 36 to simultaneously start air pump 24 andmove valve 38 to open position so the air can flow through hose 30 toair inlet 22 and inside pad A. Once pad A is inflated to a desiredrigidity, user will release switch 36 to simultaneously deactivate airpump 24 and release valve 38 so it can return to normally closedposition and stop back flow of air from pad A towards air pump 24. Userwill set timer 40 to a desired length of time and start the sleep orrest period by lying on pad A. Upon expiration of the set time, valve 38is switched to open position independent from air pump 24 and forsufficient length of time to allow the weight of the user's torso toexhaust the air out of pad A. Air pump 24 remains deactivated duringdeflation period. Once deflation is completed, valve 38 returns to itsnormally closed position in preparation for the next use cycle.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A collapsible apparatus of the type adapted to be inflated by an airsource for supporting the torso of a user in an inclined angel with thehead and shoulders towards the higher end, said generally wedge shapedapparatus comprising: (a) An inflatable generally wedge shaped pad madeof air impermeable material having a bottom in generally a horizontalplain as the base surface, a top in an inclined angel as the supportsurface and connected to said base surface along one edge to form lowend of said wedge shaped pad, a vertical surface opposite to said lowend connecting said base and said support surfaces at the high end ofsaid wedge shaped pad as the back surface, said Base, support and backsurfaces connected and sealed on the two sides of said pad by generallytriangle shaped side surfaces, (b) Air inlet means preferably positionedon said back surface for providing fluid communication between thesource of air and the interior of said inflatable pad, (c) An air supplyunit containing an electric air pump connected to a normally closed flowvalve, said flow valve adapted to switch to open state in synchronicitywith said air pump switching to active state, said flow valve alsoadapted to switch to open state independent from said air pump, (d) Anair hose connecting said air supply unit to said air inlet of said pad,(e) A control panel connected to said air supply unit by a cable ofsuitable length to control said air supply unit from a convenientlocation, said control panel equipped with a switch for activating saidair pump to inflate said pad, said control panel also equipped with atiming device to set time delay for a desirable length in which the saidpad remains inflated, upon expiration of selected time said flow valveto open independent from said air pump and remain open for a suitablelength of time allowing the weight of the users torso to deflate saidpad while the said air source remains deactivated, said flow valvereturning to closed position at any time between the end of deflationperiod and the start of the next use cycle of said apparatus.
 2. Anapparatus defined in claim 1 in which said pad is made to a universalsize and shape to serve users of all heights and weights.
 3. Anapparatus defined in claim 1 in which said pad is customized for desiredheights and weights.
 4. An apparatus defined in claim 1 in which saidpad is adjustable to different lengths.
 5. An apparatus defined in claim1 in which said pad is adjustable to different heights.
 6. An apparatusdefined in claim 1 in which said air pump is manual.
 7. An apparatusdefined in claim 1 in which said air pump is battery operated.
 8. Anapparatus as defined in claim 1 in which air pressure, fluids, springsand mechanical arrangements are used in any combination or independentlyas means of propping the user torso in an inclined angel, said air orfluid bags consist of at least one reservoir capable of communicatingwith additional reservoirs or out side air to create different levels ofelevation.
 9. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said supportsurface is covered to provide a user with a more comfortable surface torest upon.
 10. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the basesurface is extended beyond the lower end of said support surface for thelower portion of the user body to rest upon thereby preventing said padfrom moving.
 11. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which saidsupport surface is adapted to eliminate the need for a pillow.
 12. Anapparatus defined as in claim 1 in which said control panel is adaptedto be wireless.
 13. An apparatus defined as in claim 1 in which asolenoid can be adapted to operate the flow valve independent from theair source arrangement.
 14. An apparatus defined as in claim 1 in whichthe air inlet and air outlet are separated and positioned apart so theair release system is independent of the air source and flow valvearrangement.
 15. An apparatus defined as in claim 1 in which the timersettings are factory set.